We're forcing them to take our concerns seriously: Demand Progress members have sent more than 50,000 emails to Senators to urge them to oppose the Internet Blacklist Bill (the PROTECT IP Act). Now we're hearing back from them, and one thing is clear: Our emails are compelling Senators to start thinking hard about Internet freedom.

Will you urge your lawmakers to to oppose the Internet Blacklist Bill? Just click here:

PROTECT IP would give the government the power to force Internet service providers, search engines, and other "information location tools" to block users' access to sites that have been accused of copyright infringement -- the initiation of a China-style censorship regime here in the United States.

Senators are writing back to let us know that our emails are making them think twice before rubber-stamping PROTECT IP. For instance, Oregon's Jeff Merkley is telling Demand Progress members:

"I have heard from many Oregonians on both sides of this issue – those who support providing U.S. agencies with greater authority to shut down websites, and those who are worried that the legislation could result in Internet censorship. Thanks to your letter and the letters of fellow Oregonians, I have asked my staff to take a closer look into this legislation."

The government is trying to censor the internet, Much like china. They want to block sites that have copyrighted material COMPLETELY from all internet users. This can NOT possibly end well. If you would, please kindly use one of their automated messages to protest the bill, and possibly add a bit of your own message. It would only take a second.

That was a different bill, designed to throw those who streamed copyrighted material in jail. This one is to block sites that DO have copyrighted material on them, weither it's streaming or not from all internet users in America.